IMDA
Singapore's statutory board regulating infocomm and media; administers the 2026 data-centre capacity roadmap.
Last refreshed: 2 June 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What conditions does IMDA require before approving a new Singapore data centre?
Timeline for IMDA
Launched the Green Data Centre Roadmap setting PUE and cooling mandates for capacity release
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Singapore prices its conditions up front- What is IMDA and what does it do in Singapore?
- IMDA (Infocomm Media Development Authority) is a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information. It regulates telecommunications, broadcasting, and digital infrastructure, and administers Singapore's data-centre capacity policy, including the 2026 Green Data Centre Roadmap.Source: IMDA
- What are the IMDA data centre requirements for Singapore in 2026?
- IMDA mandates a system-wide PUE of 1.3 or below at full IT load within ten years, liquid or immersion cooling, and data-hall temperatures of 26°C. A separate 200 MW capacity tranche requires operators to run on green energy.Source: IMDA Green Data Centre Roadmap
- Why did Singapore freeze data centre approvals and when did that end?
- Singapore imposed a de-facto freeze on new data-centre capacity from around 2019 because of land scarcity and grid constraints. IMDA's Green Data Centre Roadmap, launched 30 May 2026, lifted the freeze conditionally, releasing 500 MW under efficiency and green-energy requirements.Source: IMDA
- How does Singapore decide which data centres get approved?
- IMDA gates approval on two criteria: operators must achieve a PUE of 1.3 or below and adopt liquid or immersion cooling (qualifying for the 300 MW tranche); the additional 200 MW tranche requires certified green energy supply. Conditions are set at the permit stage, before construction.Source: IMDA Green Data Centre Roadmap
Background
IMDA (the Infocomm Media Development Authority) launched Singapore's Green Data Centre Roadmap on 30 May 2026, unlocking 300 MW of near-term data-centre capacity under efficiency conditions plus a separate 200 MW tranche reserved for operators running on green energy. The roadmap mandates a system-wide PUE of 1.3 or below at full IT load within ten years, and requires liquid or immersion cooling and data-hall temperatures of 26°C. Singapore had maintained a de-facto freeze on new capacity since 2019; the roadmap is a metered, conditions-first re-opening.
IMDA is a statutory board under Singapore's Ministry of Communications and Information, established in 2016 from the merger of the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA). It is the principal regulator and developer of Singapore's infocomm and media sectors, administering licences, spectrum, and technical standards across telecommunications, broadcasting, and digital infrastructure. Its REMIT covers both the commercial media industry and the national digital economy strategy.
As the body setting the terms of Singapore's data-centre capacity release, IMDA occupies a pivotal position in the Asia-Pacific digital infrastructure debate. Its conditions-first model — setting PUE, cooling technology, and green-energy requirements before a permit is issued — inverts the US approach of litigating consent and cost after construction begins. The template is being watched closely by regulators in South Korea and Japan who face comparable land and grid constraints.